New Michigan head football coach Kyle Whittingham is reportedly hiring his brother, Freddie, to join his inaugural staff in Ann Arbor. This news comes around the same time that reports came out on Michigan also hiring offensive coordinator Jason Beck and wide receivers coach Micah Simon.
Kyle’s young brother, Freddie has been with the Utah Utes since 2012. He was initially hired to be the program’s director of player personnel and held that role for four years. Then, in 2016, he was promoted to be Utah’s tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. He has held that role the last 10 years.
According to his profile page on the Utes’ website, the tight ends “have played an integral role” in Utah’s offense under Freddie Whittingham. In fact, Utah’s tight ends have accounted for 32 percent of the offense’s overall yardage the last five seasons, with a tight end being the leading receiver for Utah in three of the last six seasons. Furthermore, Utah tight ends have scored 56 touchdowns over the last six years, and a Utah tight end has caught at least one pass in 95 of the last 96 games, including 77 straight at one point.
In 2024, he coached Brant Kuithe to an impressive 35-catch, 505-yard and eight-touchdown campaign, with the latter category being a team-high. Kuithe also became Utah’s all-time leader in catches and receiving yards for a tight end that season.
This year, Utah’s leading two tight ends — JJ Buchanan and Dallen Bentley — accounted for a combined 64 catches, 865 yards and nine touchdowns. Bentley was also named to the All-Big 12 third-team for his individual efforts in 2025.
